Federer said: "I'm excited about having the weekend off because it's been a tough first week. I'm excited to still be here.

"Jurgen Melzer is the same age [as me] and we go way back, but I've never played him before. It's going to be interesting."

Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 champion, set up a clash with third seed Novak Djokovic thanks to a 6-3 7-6 (11-9) 6-4 win over Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Djokovic eased into the last 16 with a 6-1 6-4 6-4 win over Albert Montanes.

He dominated the 28th-seeded Spaniard, winning in just an hour and 45 minutes.

Hewitt, 29, winning his 101st match on grass, lost just three points on his serve in the first set.

Highlights - Fired-up Hewitt blasts past Monfils

The second was decided in a nervy tie-break strewn with errors, and Monfils had three set points before Hewitt prevailed 11-9.

He then raced to a 4-1 lead in the third before Monfils pulled it back to 4-4 and had a break point for 5-4, but Hewitt saved it and went on to confirm his place in the last 16.

The Aussie, who had had two hip operations in the last two years, said: "I knew it was going to be tough, I've the lost the last couple of times to Gael, he is a tremendous athlete and has a really big serve.

"The second-set tie-break was huge, we both had opportunities and I was able to pull through. It could have gone either way in the third."

Djokovic, 23, who has not dropped a set since going to five in the first round against Olivier Rochus, did not offer Montanes a single break-point.

"I was holding my service games comfortably and I'm thrilled to go though," he said afterwards. "I was a little bit frustrated with my return, which is usually one of my weapons.

"It hasn't been the best couple of months for me but I'm still holding on and there's huge motivation to do well at Wimbledon.

"It's the tournament I respect most and I have to keep on fighting."

Djokovic's Wimbledon challenge is gathering momentum

Montanes, 29, had never been past the third round at the All England Club in eight previous appearances and never looked like improving on that record.

Djokovic, who had won the pair's previous three meetings, was quick to take the upper hand as he broke for a 3-1 lead.

Another break followed soon followed as the Serb won the first set in commanding fashion.

There was no let-up from him as he broke again in the first game of the second set when Montanes missed a routine forehand.

Djokovic continued to hold serve with complete authority and that was all that was required to clinch the set.

When he hammered down another winner to break at the start of the third set the contest was effectively over.

In other matches, Russian 13th seed Mikhail Youzhny was beaten 6-4 2-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 by France's Paul-Henri Mathieu in round two. He next plays Thiemo de Bakker, who saw off John Isner in three sets.

Melzer, the 16th seed, fought back after dropping the first set against 22nd-ranked Spaniard Feliciano Lopez to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 and now faces his first-ever match against Federer.

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